Over the weekend, a baby was found inside a hearse at West Gadsden Funeral Home, which prompted a murder investigation.

Within 12 hours, Gadsden police arrested 29-year-old Terrica Pearl and charged her with murder in the death of her 21-month-old daughter, Blessence Pearl.

WVTM 13 reported that a groundskeeper discovered the child’s body while moving the hearse back among other vehicles. The hearse had been parked Friday night by the funeral home manager, who said it had been locked and the child was not inside.

Police said that when the first officers arrived, there was little information to go on. Patrol officers secured the scene, the forensics unit collected and documented evidence, and detectives followed leads that led to the arrest of the child’s mother.

“This was a tough case for everybody involved,” said Mayor Craig Ford. “I’m proud of the way our police department went after the truth and got it done. An arrest doesn’t take away the hurt, but it does mean we’re one step closer to justice for this child.”

On Sunday night, the funeral home hosted a community candlelight vigil to support the family during their loss. West Gadsden Funeral Home manager, Dantez Robiinson, who organized the vigil, told WVTM 13,

“My heart fell to my feet. I have young ones. I have two kids at the age of four and seven. To get the phone call, my heart was shattered—shattered into a million pieces.”

Robinson said he wanted the family to know that people across the city support them through their unimaginable loss.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].